Tactical Decision Support Events NWS Alaska Sea Ice Program
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Transcript of Tactical Decision Support Events NWS Alaska Sea Ice Program
Tactical Decision Support Events NWS Alaska
Sea Ice Program
Kathleen ColeSea Ice Program Leader
National Weather ServiceAnchorage, Alaska
for
Sea Ice Workshop19 September 2011
The “other” stuff we
do…
Events that require Ice Desk assistance
Fall, Winter & Spring Coastal Storms Ivus – ice shoves Coastal erosion Freezing spray
Kiska SeaBering Sea
2010
Tug/Barge Resupply Alaska West Coast Alaska North Coast Kamchatka
Tug Diane HIn Nome
Walrus Research USGS, NOAA, Universities
Norseman IIJuly 2011
Polar Bear Research
MODIS 7 September 2010
Ice along Alaska north coast interrupted PB
study until 2011.
Laying Underwater Cables Kodiak to Nome Nome to Barrow Barrow to Canada
Linking Coastal Alaska to the rest of the
world!
Tactical Decision Support July 2004
4 hunters lost on the ice off Alaska north coast A weather front pushed the ice where people
were hunting Initial search failed Harsh conditions Time running out
Ice Forecaster Russ Page was called to help find the hunters
Ice at start of hunt Ice at time of failed search
Russ used satellite images and his knowledge to direct the rescue team to exactly where the hunters were located
“Jubilant” rescued hunter
aboard USCG helicopter
Tactical Decision Support June 2006 luxury
eco-cruise vessel Spirit of Oceanus encountered multi-year ice in the Bering Sea
While the Oceanus could maneuver around thin ice it was not rated for thicker ice.
The captain requested support from Kathleen Cole at the Ice Desk If they could not find a route around the ice the
cruise would be cancelled Kathleen provided daily briefings to the captain
which were a popular shipboard event The cruise continued around the ice They sent me flowers!
Tactical Decision Support April 2010 assistance requested by EPA Project to restore Marine Habitat on Saint
Paul Island 1980’s shipwreck of the Ocean Clipper Ship was aground on vital Northern Fur Seal
rookery
Time Sensitive: The Ocean Clipper had to be removed in the few weeks between ice breakup and the arrival of the seal pups
http://oceanclipper.blogspot.com/
The Ice Desk was able to help the salvage crew get to the shipwreck through the late ice
The rookery was restored!
Tactical Decision Support March 22 --
April 4, 2009 Cook Inlet
Mt. Redoubt volcano erupted 19 times
The Lahar flowed over 22 miles down Drift River to Cook Inlet
The Oil Storage Facilities at Drift River were threatened by the lahar
The oil had to be moved to tanker ships
Sea Ice in the Inlet threatened the operation. Ice north
and northeast
of terminal
The Ice Desk identified a 72 hour window for the safe transfer of the oil.
Thank you!
Ice curl off Kamchatka
2009